Improvement in hammocks or lounges



E. H. WETHERED.

Hammocks or Lounges.

Patented March 17,1874.

n/ewa :EDWIN n. wnfrnnnnn, or woonwron, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAMMOCKS R LOUNGES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,586, dated March 17,1674; application filed December 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Major EDWIN ROBERT WETHERED, of ldoolwich, in the county of Kent, England, paymaster, royal artillery,I have invented an improved Hammock or Lounge, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is the construction of an improved hammock or lounge, in which the weight of the body is mainly supported from the central portion of the hammock. The improved hammock occupies but little space when not in use, and the persons using it are enabled to rest in a recumbent or semi-recumbent position; such hammocks being also easily convertible into, or made to serve as, an easy-chair or a screen, or into a stretcher.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved hammock set up for use, 'and showing the arrangement I prefer for domestic use.

The hammock is constructed of a piece of carpet or other fabric, a a', of the required length and width, and has wide hems at the sides of the part a. Vooden stiffening-bars b are inserted in the side hems, and the part a of the hammock is screwed or nailed to the stiifening-bars c c. The bars b b and c c protrude and overlap in the middle. The bars have eyes at their inner ends, and cords d, passing through these eyes, connect the bars together. By this means the sides of the hammock not being rigid from end to end, the part a, for supporting the head, shoulders, and back of the person using it, can be raised so as to meet at an angle the part a', which supports the remainder of the body. e is a bar for sti'- ening the head of the hammock, and has a socket at each end, for tting onto the ends of the bars c. fis an iron stifi'ener, to keep the side bars b at a sufficient distance apart. The stiffener f has rings at the end, and the bars b are passed through these rings. .The hems in the fabric a maybe cut to permit the endsof the stiffener to pass through. g g are suspending-slings having loops at its ends, connected, respectively, to the rings ofthe iron stiii'ener f and of the bars b, so as to support the hammock. These slings are furnished with friction rings h, which are passed over the hooks on the upper ends of the side supports jj. These supports are connected together by the bar or rail j', bolted thereto. The rings lzy of the slings may be made of brass tubing, threaded onto the cords, and then bent into a ring form, but with the ends unconnected to allow the rope to run easily through them when it is desired to change the inclination of the foot portion of the hammock. Figs. 3 and 4 show one of these rings on a larger scale. Z lare cords connecting the head of the hammock with the upper ends of the side supports j j, and which are made fast around the bars c, and also to frictional runners m m, one of which runners is shown separately and of full size at Figs. 5, 6, and 7. Each cord l passes from the bar c through the eyes of the runner round the top of the upright j, and thence its end returns to the runner. lVhen there is no strain upon the cord the runner can be easily moved along it, and the head can be raised to any suitable inclination.

To convert the hammock into a stretcher or invalid-chair, it is detached from the supports j j, and bars or rods are passed through rings or straps on the slings g g and on the bars c c.

To convert the hammock into a chair, the head end is raised, and shorter bars are substituted for the bars b; or the bars b may be formed in two parts, connected the one to the other with sockets, so that a part of the bar may be detached; or, if the hammock-bars b are not jointed, then their ends may be allowed to project at the rear of the chair. lf desired, the seat may be stiffened by fixing a bar with sockets at its ends, similar to the bar e, onto the rear ends of the bars b. Rails q q may be placed to slide on the slings g, as shown in Fig. 1, and upon which a book-rest, made of va textile fabric or other like material, may be hooked, when required. The rails q q may for this purpose be set in an inclined position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hammock adapted to a folding frame, so that the whole may be folded up together very quickly, suitable for camp purposes. The folding frame is constructed of two wooden uprights, jj, pivoted or jointed at t to the hammock-bars b. The uprightsjj have also jointed to them the metal rods or legs a. l Z are the cords, with friction al runners m m connecting the head part of the hammock to the uprights j j. 1' 1' are cords,

2 masse used instead of the slings g g, (shown in Fig. l 5) s s, metal or Wood cross pieces or braces for steadyin g and keeping apart the uprights jj,- fw w, cords connecting the lower endsof the uprightsjj with the rods or legs u u. Instead ot' the uprightsy']- being jointed to thehammockbars b b, they may pass through holes made in the hammock fabric, the bars b b in this case passing outside the uprights j j, and resting on the tops of the metal rods or legs u il. The hammock may also be suspended from a horizontal bar supported at each end, and by tivo side supports, the said side supports being' connected together at their upper ends by a metal joint.

rllhe hammock shown in Fin: l may be easily converted into a screen by folding together the parts a a of the hammock into a vertical position, the slings g g allowing the foot part of the hammock to be raised. The head part ot' the hammock is then raised by drawing the cords Z l through the runners m m.

For ships use, the uprights maybe dispensed with; and, in such case, I prefer that the slings g g should be connected by two rings, which may be hung upon a hook in the beam of the ship, or be otherwise suspended.

The hammock may also be suspended from a gaft' hung upon a tent-pole, or against any uprightwhich may be conveniently situated.

A hood or tent-covering may be provided to extendvfrom the back ofthe hammock, and over the top of the side supports, as a protection from the weather, when required.

NVhat I claim isl. The described improvement in hammocks or lounges, consisting, in combination therewith, of suspensories, Which are secured to or near its central part, and provided With snpports, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in hammocks or hanging lounges, of the side bars D c, which are arranged to overlap or joint near the middle, as described, to allorir ot varying the angle be tween the head and foot, substantially as and for the purpose shcvvn and described.

3. The combination, with the cords g of the frictional rings h, made as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said EDWIN 'ROBERT VETHERED, have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day oi November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

E. It. VETHERED. IL. s]

IVitnesses:

W. A. GiLBEn, G. IP. IEDrnnN. 

